Nutritionists warn that the food crisis caused by the war in Ukraine could lead to the deaths of millions.
Experts say most deaths are not from starvation but from infectious diseases and will cause more health problems globally.
Russia’s navy has cut off grain shipments to Ukrainian ports, which could lead to food shortages and famine in low-income countries.
Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, told the news agency that the dangers ahead were that those with infectious diseases would die more than those with starvation. The immune system will be weakened.
“We think the health crisis has started, but it’s not because of a new bacterium, it’s because of the people who have food,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the G20 health ministers’ meeting. They will be more prone to diseases.
According to him, “I think the millions of deaths we are talking about due to the cumulative effects of infectious diseases, food shortages and the energy crisis are in addition to the normal deaths.”
He also said that the world’s governments should focus on health care to minimize the effects of the food crisis, especially for low-income people, who are more likely to have health problems. There are more.
“This means focusing on basic health, especially in rural health systems. Although hospitals are important, maintaining basic health is very important when you are facing this kind of challenge.” ‘
Sands also said that during the struggle against Corona, the resources to protect against tuberculosis were wasted.
“The disease killed 1.5 million people in 2020,” he said.
He said that in 2020, 1.5 million people worldwide received less TB treatment, which means that thousands of people will not only die but will also infect others.
The West and Ukraine accuse Russia of increasing pressure on Ukraine to suspend food exports, which could lead to global famine.
Moscow, meanwhile, says Western sanctions are hampering supplies.
A special meeting is being held in Germany on Thursday to discuss the food crisis, entitled “Global Food Security Alliance”. US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken is also attending the meeting.